3jam

Hands on: Google Voice versus 3jam

At the end of July, a small start-up called 3jam introduced a virtual phone service that takes on Google Voice. While each is a beta-phase call-forwarding service, it became clear after dozens of calls, text messages, and voice mails, that there are important differences between the two, both on paper and in real-world testing.

First, 3jam's public beta is broadly available to all takers. Google's, on the other hand, is in invitation-only closed beta. 3jam's costs an extra $5 a month to use (for a 12-month contract), and that's not including a premium SMS plan for those wishing to surpass the monthly 40-U.S.-domestic-text-message limit. However, it can port your cell phone number and has an emphasis on group communications, which we'll talk about later on. Google Voice, on the other hand, won't yet let you hang onto your cell phone number, which means friends will need to call some new digits, but it is currently free for domestic calls (international call and texting rates will still apply).

It's spelled out here in this inexhaustive features comparison chart.

FEATURES GOOGLE VOICE 3JAM Beta Closed, invite-only; U.S. Open; International Cost Free $5/month and up Keep cell number Not yet Yes Call forwarding Cell phones, land line, Gizmo VoIP Cell phones, land line, one VoIP client Call screening, blocking, recording, listening to a live voice mail Yes No Customized voice mail greetings Multiple One Initiate a cell call from the computer Yes No Initiate SMS from the computer Yes Yes Visual voice mail Machine-transcribed Machine-transcribed Voice mail playback Phone, Web, e-mail file Phone, Web, e-mail file Free SMS Unlimited domestic Domestic: First 40 per month Group SMS No Yes Multiple phone lines per account No Yes

Does 3jam's group advantage justify the cost? Should users hold out for Google Voice?

For its part, Google Voice, which grew out of the acquisition of Grand Central, offers casual users the stronger feature set of the two, with more sophisticated calling tricks--call screening, call blocking, and listening in on a voice mail as it's being recorded. Like the visual voice mail service YouMail, it will also let you record personalized voice mail messages, but it's geared toward groups rather than individuals. … Read more

Google Voice finds a rival in 3jam

If you're itching to try Google Voice, but haven't received one of the coveted private beta invites, a Menlo Park, Calif., company called 3jam is offering an alternative.

This week, 3jam announced an open beta of its new voice forwarding and transcription service that bears a striking resemblance to Google Voice (covered here).

There are differentiating factors, though. Google Voice for instance, gives you a single central number that all your other numbers forward to--cell phone, work line, home phone, and VoIP. It employs call screening and machine-facilitated visual voice mail transcription. Using it, you can block calls, … Read more

Top free antispyware picks

Major malicious software epidemics like the much-feared Conficker virus may be fewer and farther between these days, but just because you can't see a threat, doesn't mean it can't hurt you. To that effect, we've rounded up a collection of top antispyware applications on Download.com. Not only will these six favorite programs help catch out lurking intruders, but also their services won't cost a cent, unless you choose to upgrade.

In the meantime, those considering an upgrade in the fall to Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system should take note that Microsoft has enhanced … Read more

3Jam

Category: Mobile

3Jam allows you to send reply-all text messages to a group of your friends. There are a number of different ways to use it. On a basic level, you can start reply-all groups by simply texting 3Jam's number. Alternatively, you can use a downloadable app or the company's mobile Web site. You invite some friends, they join in, and poof! You've got a text-message party.

If you're trying to get in touch with a group of friends to plan an impromptu night out or an afternoon Frisbee match, this could be a good idea. … Read more

Jamming with 3jam: 'reply-all' for phones

The presenters at the AlwaysOn conference earlier this week might have primarily consisted of companies that are marketing toward the advertising and media communities, but there were still plenty of consumer-oriented start-ups. So many, in fact, that we still aren't finished writing about them. Here's another one you all might find interesting--3jam, which allows you to send reply-all text messages to a group of your friends.

There are a bunch of different ways to use 3jam. On a basic level, you can start reply-all groups by simply texting 3jam's number, or you can use a downloadable … Read more

Jyngle sends real-time mobile messages to groups

Jyngle from Brevient Technologies says it's "real-world, real-time" voice mail and SMS messaging.

It's a social network--set up groups online and make them public or private. From a phone, dial in, submit a PIN, record a message. The voice or text message is then sent to the mobile phones of the predetermined members of that group.

Brevient says the ideal application is event reminders or meeting changes. At first glance it seems a bit complicated, but probably useful for messages that need to be heard ASAP.